Yes. A board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner is an in-network mental health provider with most major insurance plans, and your visits are typically covered the same way a visit to a psychiatrist would be.
If you have been putting off care because you were not sure whether your insurance would pay for it, let me set your mind at ease. As a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I am recognized by insurers as a qualified mental health provider. That means your behavioral health benefits generally apply to the care I provide, including evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management.
What your plan usually covers
Most plans cover psychiatric evaluations and follow-up medication management visits under your behavioral or mental health benefit. What you pay out of pocket depends on your specific plan, things like your copay, your deductible, and whether your plan is an HMO or a PPO. Two patients with the same diagnosis can have very different costs simply because their plans are built differently.
How to confirm your coverage in five minutes
Before your first visit, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask three simple questions:
- Do I have behavioral or mental health benefits, and is telehealth covered.
- Is Dr. Joanne Patterson, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, in network with my plan.
- What is my copay or coinsurance for a behavioral health visit, and do I have a deductible to meet first.
If you would rather not make that call yourself, my office can help you verify your benefits before we begin.
What if I am out of network, or prefer not to use insurance
Some patients choose to use self-pay for privacy, flexibility, or to access the holistic, root-cause services that fall outside traditional insurance. Self-pay options are available, and many can be paid with an HSA or FSA card. I lead with botanical medicine and carry the prescription pad, and I want the way you pay to be the part you worry about least.
Ready to be seen, virtually, from wherever you are. New patients are welcome in Maryland, Washington DC, Nevada, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.